Mission and Goals

Established in 1986 by the University of California in response to California Senate Bill 872, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program provides leadership and support for scientific research and education for Californians to produce, distribute, process and consume food and fiber in a manner that is economically viable, sustains natural resources and biodiversity, and enhances the quality of life in the state’s diverse communities for present and future generations. In support of that mission, SAREP pursues the following programmatic goals:

• California farmers and ranchers are more able to manage their land and businesses in ways that are economically viable and that protect and enhance both human and natural resources and biodiversity;
• Consumers have a closer connection to agriculture and California’s rural and urban communities are strengthened through participation in sustainable food systems; and
• Government programs and policies encourage and support the development of sustainable farms, ranches and communities in California.

SAREP accomplishes these goals using three main strategies:

• Fund basic and applied research on sustainable farming and ranching practices and systems, projects that promote mutual understanding and cooperation among urban residents and farmers and policies that impact the sustainability of California agriculture and its communities;
• Improve farmers’ and ranchers’ access to new and existing information with continuing emphasis on practical information, whole-systems orientation, and a combination of scientific and experiential information; and
• Support the development of community-based food and agricultural systems, and broad-based university-community collaborations that strengthen these systems.

Public and technical advisory committees advise SAREP on its goals and make recommendations on the award of competitive grants. The Public Advisory Committee (PAC) is composed of 10-18 individuals, the majority of whom represent agriculture as well as government, public organizations, and institutions of higher education. All are knowledgeable regarding the issues and practices of sustainable agriculture. The duties of the PAC include recommending goals and priorities for SAREP, including, but not limited to, reviewing the priority of grant applications. In reviewing grant applications, the primary responsibility of the PAC is to advise whether or not proposals address program goals. The PAC also assists in the development of the annual plan and the five-year strategic plan.

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is made up of 10-18 individuals who are faculty and staff of the University of California and other experts from outside the university, all with knowledge and experience in diverse areas related to sustainable agriculture. The specific duties of the TAC include making recommendations about the scientific merit of grant applications. In reviewing proposals to the competitive grants program, the primary responsibility of the TAC is to advise whether or not proposals are scientifically sound.

Members of both the PAC and TAC are appointed by the Vice President of DANR, who is the President’s designee. Nominations for new members are solicited by the SAREP director from current members of the committees, regional directors and campus deans. Nominations are also welcome from individuals throughout the University and the state. Individuals on the Public and Technical advisory committees serve three-year terms with approximately one-third of the members rotating off each year. The diverse composition of SAREP’s Public and Technical Advisory Committees reflects the breadth of our goals.This Biennial Report 1995-1997 highlights SAREP’s achievements in FY 1995/96 and FY 1996/97 and includes summaries of SAREP’s funded projects during this period.

 

1997 Public and Technical Advisory Committees

PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Catherine Brandel, Culinary Institute of America, St. Helena
Cynthia Cory, California Farm Bureau Federation, Sacramento
David Costa, farmer, Lemoore
Leonard Diggs, farmer, The Farmery, Forestville
Marion Kalb, Southland Farmers Market Association, Los Angeles
James Liebman, Pesticide Action Network, San Francisco
Ron Mansfield, farmer, Goldbud Farms, Placerville
Andrew Rubin, Cal-EPA, Department of Pesticide Regulation, Sacramento
Bryte Stewart, farmer, Rio Vista
Michael Straus, Straus Family Creamery, Marshall
Brock Taylor, Brock Taylor Consulting, Escalon
Don Villarejo, California Institute for Rural Studies, Davis
Angus Wright, Environmental Studies, California State University, Sacramento

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Edith Allen, Botany and Plant Sciences, UC Riverside
Steve Blank, Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis
Caroline Bledsoe, Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis
Robert Gottlieb, Pollution Prevention Education Research, UCLA
Blaine Hanson, Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis
Tim Hartz, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis
Donald Klingborg, Veterinary Medicine Extension, UC Davis
Craig Kolodge, UC Cooperative Extension, county director, Santa Clara County
Janet Savage, School of Public Health, UC Berkeley
Tom Shultz, UC Cooperative Extension dairy farm advisor, Tulare County
Robert Thayer, Environmental Design, UC Davis
Lucia Varela, UC Cooperative Extension, area IPM advisor, North Coast
Joan Wright, Human and Community Development, UC Davis